Beach Telegraph

New Skool vs Old Skool

Nice [old-skool meets new skool] quad board - and interesting results and comments.

umi pictures talk Reunion with top-class photographer Gilles Calvet.

And U-Ride speak to the man who organised the whole deal, Steve Palier. (More on Reunion Classic and awesome Calvet imagery in the October issue of Windsurfer International Magazine with Scott McKercher's perspective as well as Reunion local, event competitor and organiser Pierre Godet's view on the event.)

Gaastra Buddha.

Meet Ross. (Includes video.)

Nice idea.

Bring it Back

Good news. The 'Bring Back the Swansea-Cork Ferry' campaign has raised 2.5 million Euros. Bad news. 500K more is needed by Friday March 6th.

If you're a lover of Irish waves and want the quickest and best way to travel between the UK and Ireland to resume service , or you own a business dependant on tourism in Ireland or South Wales, please pledge money now and buy shares at the Bring Back the Swansea-Cork Ferry website. Thanks (Not sure if the shares entitle you to discount on crossings or Guinness in the bar yet...)

The joy-filled Scott McKercher has a new Blog at the Severne website.

You'll notice I put a new Poll about PWA Webcasts on this page. Please vote and let's see what people think.

The tour's kicked-off already but I'm addicted to the Fantasy Surfer game already.

Here's a nice little Cape Town clip from UK wavesailor Adam Lewis.

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) are offering a limited amount of free subscriptions to eco-mag Surfer's Path to anyone signing up to join. Hurry while the offer lasts!

Jem Hall says to look-out for his new Wave technique movie ‘Winner to Wavesailor’ due out end March and that he’ll be sending me some chapters to review.

How Serene...

Some Jericoacora action video from RRD's new insider Blog.

Don't forget to stay up-t0-date with the Fuerteventura Wave Classic...

Hot Content

First-up is a nice shot sent in by George from the Live2Sail Blog. Thanks George.

Here's a really short interview with PWA Wave Tour leader Josh Angulo on Maui.ee.

A Chilean adventure on video with Fabrice Beaux.

Some boom-Cam action from Seatex Boards on Windsurfmag.it.

After scraing some seals, GP is being cruel to Oceanic mammal life. Again. This time he's taken on a Sea Lion.

Don't you just love these vintage magazines. I love the smell and feel of these old issues crammed with great stories and less ads than in many you see today. (Even with the recession.) Check out the great surf books there too.

Speaking of Surf books, PWA and legendary surf scene photographer Alex Williams has launched a new book of some classic  shots of British Surfing in the 70s in a new publication titled 'Atlantic Surfers'. (You can preview the first 15 pages online.)

The March issue of Boards is out and I've got two articles published.

(That's Canadian PWA Freestyle rider Phil Soltysiak on the cover by the way.)

First up I've a review of the career of Scott McKercher followed by an investigation into the new Freestyle Classix format.

If you've read these I'd love some feedback on either the articles or the subject. Thanks.

WIND Mag issue 333 is also out now and it's a monster test issue. Check out the huge list of gear they've tried out.

Any other new issues of magazines out? Please leave the details in the Comment section below. Thanks.

U-Ride have a link to some video of Slalom racing action in The Gorge.

With the Fuerteventura Wave Classic a few days away, WSJ have posted a link to video of Spew Pits cranking on the island from last week to whet your appetite.

UK Windsurf and SUP pro John Hibbard wrote in; 'The main right peak at this beach is rammed with Surfers everyday and is a  100% No Go Zone for SUPers. 

The left in between the main break and the rivermouth is empty but it's hard to catch - not on my Starboard 8' 5" though!'

And finally. The Hustle Project. We've got a winner of the Fanatic T-Shirt contest.

So congratulations to Rudie from Holland correctly answered that Fanatic won 4 World Cup events in 2008 - World freestyle champ Gollito won Podersdorf and Lanzarote and world number 2 wavesailor Victor Fernandez won in Pozo and Sylt.

Rudie said 'I really like Fanatic because one of their boards got me back in to windsurfing big time!! And they are not through with me because I still want the freewave 86 ltr!'

Rudie - I'll be in contact about the details. Let's see what the rest of the industry can come up with for you guys? I guess you'll shout loudly about what you got from them at the beach  hey? Power to the people! Lets get you some stash.

Quadimoso

Here's some news from Kauli Seadi in Cabo Verde.

And here's what Josh Angulo says about Kauli and those much talked about Quatro/JP Quad-Fin boards. "Kauli showed up early in Cabo Verde. His hunger to win here again is evident and his sailing is looking up to the task.

Just  as most people are striving to try and mimic his unique style by riding similiar twin fins, Kauli has been sailing here on a  little Quad.

He's shown some clear moments of brilliance on it and looks as though, when he gets them in the groove, that he's got great drive to propel him to where he wants to be on the wave.

All in all , I'd say Kauli is definitely on the extreme edge of R&D, and here in Cabo Verde he will be the main challenger for the title."

Windsurf Journal (French language) have a great story on a great achievement by a great man. (Google translated version here.)

Some nice pics of Chile on the Ezzy Blog.

Nayra Alonso's still in WA on the Starboard shoot. Is McKercher letting one rip in that underwater shot?

Phew. It's hot in here.

Gulp. These'll cool you down.

Hee's some information on the 2009 Raceboard and Mistral One-design World Championships.

Please check back in for more later - and who knows? Maybe I'll announce the first winner of the Fanatic T-Shirt quiz?